The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-04-30

she looked upon the now serene and
cloudless heavens, and then turning
upon the communicative lady an eye as
lightsome and as smiling as the blue ex.
panse itself, she repeated her interro.
gatory.
Robert Kumba," said Mrs. Hasset
dwelling on her word with the distinct
ness which the Importance of the occa
sion warranted Robert Kumba is 20
ing to be married"
"What is it Mrs. Hasset says, my
dear?'' said Mrs. Byrne to her daughter
"She says that Mr.. Kumba is going c
be married. ma 'am,'' replied the latter
smiling, and adapting her voice more
judiciously than James had done to the
condidition of the aged widows auricu-
lar powers.
eyes," Mrs. Hasset continued, a little
annoyed by the perfect equanimity with
which her distracting intelligence was
received by the party she considered
most interested, II always suspected
that it was not for nothing all those fine
alterations were taking place about bis
farm. It was only yesterday evening
learned that he had proposed for Miss
Jemima Blaney. She is a pretty girl
indeed. and has nice ready money for.
tune, but I know where Mr.. Kumba
might have better choice. However,
that's past and gone, now. If not a
better, at least a fairer and more honor
able one-thatI will say. But youth
money and youth are everything with
the men in these days-girls begin to be
looked upon as old maids now. atan age
when they would he hardly suffered to
go into company in my time"
The conversation was again inter
rupted by the entrance of James, who
now approached them with double
proportion of Importance and astonish.
ment in his look and manner. Not for
getful of his former error, he now COM
municated his intelligence to Lilly. in a
whisper which was not lost on the quick
ear of Mrs. Hasset.
lis itpossible?" she exclaimed. ''1ow
suddenl"
Mot altogether so," said Lilly, en-
deavoring to command the agitation
which made her frame tremble; ''he
wrote to my mother few days since,
and we appointed this morning to re-
ceive him.
"Well, 1 rejoice most sincerely at it,
indeed-and I will not stay to encum-
Der you with my presence-for I know
how I felt on these occasions myself in
my young days-when poor Hasset-
ah!-well, good morning, Lilly, I'll not
detain you''-then turning back as if
struck by sudden thoughtful would
be as we'll, perhaps, if you said nothing
of that report, as it happens to be false
and it would only annoy the poor
young man. Some malicious person
that set it afoat. 1 dare say, to make us
uneasy"
AS the good lady left the garden, she
was met by gentleman in black, with
long skirted coat and slashed sleeves,
a cravat neatly edged with the finest
Flanders lace, a periwig of reasonable
compass, surmounted by small glossy
hat, clicked silk stockings, and square
toed shoes, with neat small buckles
all, in fact, that could be esteemed
characteristic Of gravity and respecta-
bility united. lie bowed to Mrs. Has.
sett as he passed, and entered the gar
den in some trepidation and anxiety.
''It is a bad sign to 60 wooing in
mourning" said the lady, shaking her
wise head as she gazed after him. II
hope no harm will come of it,
The stranger, in the meantime,
passed from the garden to the summer
house, in which Lilly Byrne and her
mother were expecting him. Even his
manly heart began to fail him, when he
caught the rstglimpse of their mourn
ing drapery through the scanty foliage
OF the spring boughs. The SORROWS Of
the past-the Affections which his own
wantonness had occasioned, rushed
back upon his memory in a dark and
overpowering torrent, and unnerved
his resolution. Some light motion in
the arbor, however, recalled him, pre-
sently, to sense of the necessity of
self-possession; and quickly arousing
himself from his depression, he walked
forward, without risking the return Of
his evil recollections by second pause.
1t was an embarrassing meeting to
all parties-for the will must always re-
main in state of embarrassment where
the judgment and the affections are at
war, and neither can indicate the ex-
tent to which the other ought to be in
obliged. Nature, however, generally
asserts her own right to dictate on such
occasions.
Kumba, with his eyes cast down, had
commenced confused and hesitatiag
speech about his gratitude for the in
diligence which, when suddenly alb